Welcome Back to School

The school year has started and priorities have shifted from fun time to learning. Today we got an unexpected lesson when we looked at the parsley growing in the front yard. Catepillars, and lots of them. After some internet research it looks like we have about 6 black swallowtail catepillars eating our parsley. I only wish that there was more parsley left for them to eat. Here is one of the pictures for your enjoyment.

Too Busy

We are too Busy having fun for me to worry about taking the time to post... I hope everyone has a great 4th of July!

1st Birthday

My daughter turned 1 on the 11th and we had a great time doing a cupcake party. I wanted to share what we did for gift bags as I think they really were a great for kids 3 and under. I got really lucky with party supplies and one of the "gifts" as Michael's had a line of cupcake items in the $1 bins. Got even luckier when the same items went on sale for $0.47 each.

I made cupcake softies in pink, yellow, and blue, added some bubbles that I had left over from my son's birthday, made a cupcake memory game, and threw in a cupcake magnet. Tied the bags with some ribbon from Michael's dollar bin and a perfect cupcake gift bag was done.

For the cupcake softies, I made a pattern based on a picture of a cupcake that I liked. I used my limited photo shop skills and enlarged the picture, printed it out twice and cut out a top and bottom piece that I then used for my pattern.

Cupcake memory was fun to make. I spent a day finding eight different cupcake images, tried to size them all the same, printed them out on white card stock, then had my husband cut them out. I spent forever trying to figure out what to use to hold the cards together and give me a place to put directions too, finally I took some florist cards and printed out stickers for directions. I like the way it all stays together, plus it was free.

Teacher's Gift Idea

My son had his last day of preschool recently and it was really hard to say goodbye to a great school that we spent three years with. I have watched my son grow and become a confident little boy ready to face Kindergarten. To say thank you to all of his teachers we made these adorable pots. I of course did not take a picture of the final project, I guess that means that we need to make at least 1 more. But here is the general idea.

We took some terra cotta pots, primed them white, had my son draw line to separate grass and sky, using a paint pen for terra cotta wrote along the top "thank you for helping me grow". We then using his thumb and finger we made flowers around the pot. When the paint dried I used some spray varnish to seal the pots and potted them with lavender. I think that the teacher's really liked these gift as they were handmade, but useful. Plus what women does not like the smell of lavender.

Cupcakes

Speaking of cupcakes I want to give a shout out to all these amazing people who have inspired me on this theme and for ideas on the take home gifts for the party that I am throwing.

These beauties are from http://lindaalbrecht.typepad.com/ and her Simple Things Blog, they made not be edible, but they sure look scrumptious. You should really see Linda's other work as it is just amazing. I am so inspired to play with paper now. Thanks, Linda.

This is a cute as pie (or should I say cupcake) pin from HappyBirdscraftinghaven.com, I just love the effects from the glitter.

Who could resist this cupcake? I love softies and this one by cherrymix is just so cute. I can picture all of the embellishments that one could do too.

I love this idea, pin the candle on the cupcake, it is available from tons of online retails for about $19.99, so not paying that, but will have fun making one of my own for sure.

I also loved what My Little Piece of that Azure Sky did for her little girl, check it out at http://davinie.blogspot.com/2008/04/cupcake-party-for-cupcake-lass.html

These are from CutieGoodie.etsy.com. I love the idea of personalised little felt take homes for the kids. This party is going to be so much fun. Now that I am full of ideas off to work I go.

Cupcake Invites

I am planning my daughter's 1st birthday and doing a cupcake theme. I am having kids all five and under so I am planning to do some cupcake decorating, pin the cherry or candle on the cupcake, and food in cupcake/muffin form. I think that this will be a blast. The hardest part was finding an invite that did not cost and arm and a leg. After hitting the wire for when the invites needed to get out I found a great cupcake image and using my very limited photoshop skills made up the invite. I hope that someone else can use this too. Take image 1 and print as many as you need, fill out the details in image 2 and using a red brad, attach the two at the cherry. Also image 1 would look awesome on vellum using the same method to attach and create the invite. I hope that you like. I am now on a mission to find some cardboard big enough to start making the felt board for the game. Happy crafting.

Super Pegs

As a welcome home present for my son I made him some super pegs, all his faves are here Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, and Batman. A huge thank you to Naked Peggies, and Michelle at her cup overfloweth for the great idea. Next time I am playing with pegs villains and maybe some Disney princess.

Project List

So I have been browsing a million and one other blogs, websites, and everything else in between and came up with a list of projects that I would like to get done this summer while I am on a break from school. I am just hoping that the little ones give me enough time to get one done a week (that isn't asking too much is it?). Here is my list I hope you find something that you want to make too.

Projects List

Sewing:
Ruffled Skirt http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/grand_revival_design/2007/10/ruffled-skirt-t.html
Pencil Holder/ Crayon Holder
http://joyridewithmiral.blogspot.com/2009/04/pencil-and-crayon-holders.html
http://nested.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/materials-you-w.html
Shorts
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2009/04/dish-towel-shorts/
http://www.sewmamasew.com/media/blog/SMSBandanaPants.pdf
Basket
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/fabric-easter-basket.html
Fabric Dollhouse
http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html
Fabric Travel Chalkboards
http://anyonecanquilt.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/cute-fabric-chalkboards.html
Dishtowel Skirt
http://www.graceviolet.com/2009/02/how-to-make-skirt-from-dish-towels.html
Play Mat Drawstring Bag
Ruffle Top
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=791
Cloth Flip Flops
http://www.ladyharvatine.com/2007/06/summer-slippers.html
Pillowcase Dress/Top
http://www.jenleheny.com/pillowcase-dress-instructions

Softies:
Scottie
http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/05/softie_scotty_d.html
Pointy Kitty
http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/store/pointykitty.html
Hot Diggidy Dog
http://qdpatooties.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-free-pattern-hot-diggity-dog.html
Owl
http://www.qdpatooties.com/bluehowlaiiptrn.jpg

Weaving:
Recycled Bag Basket
http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.com/2009/03/over-past-few-weeks-me-and-my-friend.html

Knitting:
Girls Top
http://soulfulhuesknits.blogspot.com/2008/02/girls-cap-sleeved-spring-top-with.html
Feb. Baby Sweater

Hair Clips:
Fabric Button Clips
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/05/binding-and-hair-clips.html
Felt Clips
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-make-felt-hair-clips.html
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2007/06/this_house_is_w.html

Other:
Refinish Table
Baby Food Jar Hanging Lanterns
Baby Food Jar pincushion
http://www.craftpudding.com/2009/03/tutorial-baby-food-jar-pincushion.html

Car Play mat prototype

So I was blog cruising and saw this awesome project by Tangarang http://tangarangblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/monday-craft.html. It reminded me of a project that I had seen in a 70's craft book, so I thought I would try to combine the two and see what happens. Here is what I created.




This is a prototype because I do not like how I made it into a pouch. The loopies just don't work for what I want so I think that I am going to make more of a drawstring bag on the next one.

Peg Dolls

I made my first peg dolls as a gift for a 5 year old's birthday present. I must give a world of thanks to some folks for the inspiration behind this gift, first and foremost has to go to Grace Violet check out her great post http://www.graceviolet.com/2009/03/how-to-make-peg-doll-cottage.html for a super cute peg doll house. My version is Tiki, and here it is....




Also take a look at these great Etsy sellers:
Wunderkind and Naked Peggies



Here are the dolls that I made...

Emma's Garland

Emma has a great yellow room with a nice funky vintage feel to it, the problem is that we have yet to do anything about her windows. So at the dollar tree I found these

clothes pins, and with some raffia that I had around made her this.

I love how it brightens up the horrible blinds. Now I have something else to add to my requirements for fabric for her drapes, oh well....

Dollar Store Inspiration

Looking around at One Crafty Place, I always find some project that I want to make, recreate, or just am plain inspired by. The last time I visited I found a few great projects, links, and got me to head to the Dollar store and see what I could find to create with. I have started a few projects, but not on the two that got me there in the first place. To see my inspiration, head to http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2009/04/dish-towel-shorts/, http://filthwizardry.blogspot.com/2009/04/tea-towel-skirts.html (who by the way may just be one of the coolest mom's ever), and http://www.graceviolet.com/2009/02/how-to-make-skirt-from-dish-towels.html (love all the pineapples). Here is what I have been doing...